Category Archives: Valentine

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Candy Treat Ideas

In case you are scrambling for a few last minute Valentine candy treat ideas, here are a few for you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is super easy! Just fill a cello bag with Valentine candy and make a topper for it! I used the Top Note Die (so versatile), folded it in half, and decorated it with punched hearts. You could add a Valentine greeting, too, if you wanted. You can staple the bag inside or use SNAIL adhesive.

The Scallop Envelope Die makes it easy to make a little treat holder. A Ghirardelli chocolate fits just right inside! Wrap a ribbon around the bottom to hold it closed and add a Valentine greeting! This greeting is from Got Treats. If you don't have the Scallop Envelope die you could fold up your own little envelope with paper.

One of the first cute things I ever learned to make when I first heard of Stampin' Up! was a matchbook! We put post-it notes inside then, but candy works well, too! Mine measures 2 1/2" x 7" and is scored at 3", 3 1/4", and 6 1/4" to fold around a Ghirardelli chocolate. It you have some other candy, you might want to make it larger. The stamp on the Whisper White is from Easy Events, a very versatile stamp set for lots of occasions.

I stapled the edge of the candy to the bottom flap or you could use a mini glue dot. The ribbon will hold the front flap closed. Or the flap can go on the outside. However you want!

Matchbook from the side. You can see how the scoring makes a little space to hold the candy.

Have a fun Valentine's Day doing something YOU love!

You Are Loved Valentine for Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is only one day away! Did you make a Valentine for someone special? This one came to mind when I saw something similar online with non-Stampin' Up! materials. I decided to add texture to the Cherry Cobbler base of the card with the very popular Honeycomb Textured Impression Embossing Folder #1293778. (I never remember it is called "Honeycomb"….I think most of us think of it as the 'hexagon' embossing folder!) I used the Labels Collections Framelits Dies #125598 to die-cut the First Edition Specialty Paper #121878. I stamped on it with Cherry Cobbler ink and sponged the edges a bit with Soft Suede to give it a little aged look. Couldn't you also see this as a wedding card?

Originally I stamped the "Love" image directly on the First Edition paper as I did the flower from the stamp set You Are Loved, but the design just didn't do enough for me. So I relented and stamped it on Very Vanilla and cut out with the Decorative Label Punch #120907. I stamped it again and punched out the word "Love" with the Large Oval Punch #119855.

Since I already had the Champagne Glimmer Paper #127885 out on the table, I couldn't resist using it! Once you see that glimmer paper in person, you just can't resist it! The Champagne paper is still available to order even though it is not in the Spring Catalog. I originally tried it as a large Label die-cut behind the First Edition paper but changed my mind. But once I was using the Decorative Label Punch, it was easy to layer it behind that! There is a trick to doing that….just punch out two and cut each in half, one vertically and one horizontally, then layer behind the punch on all four sides. You'll see how they fit. And for a final touch, I wrapped some Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine around the front of the valentine.

We often don't get a peek at the inside of the card, but since this You Are Loved stamp set had a nice saying in the set, I used that as well as stamped the flower on the inside layer.

Now that's another Valentine card ready to go on February 14th! If you make a Stampin' Up! valentine, send me a picture and I'll put it on my blog!

Valentines for Boys (or Robot-Loving Girls!)

Valentines are sometimes all "mushy" but here is a cute idea for valentines for boys! Not that they can't be for girls, too, of course…but in the craft world, it's often more difficult to find "boy" things. Anybody who loves robots will like these valentines…and not just for Valentine's Day either! They would be just as cute for birthday cards or some kind of birthday party favors. The only bad thing is that the chocolate candy making up the body is pretty tempting and then the robot is kind of destroyed! But that's okay…we have to remember, it is only paper!

Of course I copied the idea from a couple I saw online a long time ago and then made them up my own way. On two, I embossed aluminum foil (the heavy duty kitchen kind) in an embossing folder in the Big Shot.

Here are close-ups of the robot valentines. The glare of the foil makes it a little difficult to take photos!

Here you can see the two chocolate nuggets forming the body (stuck together with one mini glue dot near the bottom of the candy and some Sticky Strip on the back.

Use your imagination and make some fun valentines like these! Once you get started, it is hard to stop!

Shop Stampin' Up! Online here at my Online Store!

Best of Love Gentler Times Heart Anniversary Card

Stampin' Up! has lots of plans for their 25th anniversary year, and one of them is to offer the "Best of…" stamp sets through the year. February's stamp set is "Best of Love" and includes stamps that have been favorites through the years plus one new image! One of the stamps in this set is this beautiful heart, which I mentioned in yesterday's post, was originally from a stamp set "Gentler Times".

The heart is stamped on this card in Regal Rose ink (although it comes out darker than you would think the ink would be!), cut out, then embossed with Iridescent Ice Stampin' Emboss Powder to make it sparkly (which is why I had to take a picture sideways so you could see the design in the heart without the glare). The card base and layer is Pink Pirouette and there's even a layer of the Silver Glimmer Paper. I also added some Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon to cover the edge of the half piece of the Paper Doily. And finally I needed a rather narrow sentiment for the bottom of the card and something that would go with the elegant heart, so I chose the words from Memorable Moments.

A bonus for you if you purchase some of these "Best of.." stamp sets is that you will receive a proof-of-purchase sticker with each set. When you have collected six stickers, you can send in your Collector's Card and choose a free stamp set valued at $14.95! A collector's card is included with each stamp set.

Click on the flyer above to enlarge.

Although this stamp set was introduced in February, you do have over a year to order….although, why wait?! Put it on your next order at my Online Store and start enjoying it and using it! Take advantage of Sale-A-Bration with a $50 order…or several $50 increments…for FREE Sale-A-Bration products!

More Amore Laser-cut Hearts Valentine Card

Making valentines just takes me back to my school days! The More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper makes it so easy to get started! It comes with two laser-cut sheets with hearts, one in Real Red and one in Primrose Petals…and turn them over and you have white! You have to cut the hearts apart to use them individually, but you can create different designs depending on how you cut. Notice on my Primrose Petals heart the extra little arch above the big heart. I used the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (carried over from the Holiday Catalog) for the Whisper White layer on top of the Real Red card base to give it an elegant look.

Other stamps and accessories I used on my valentine were the Hearts a Flutter stamp set, Hearts a Flutter Framelits Dies, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Full Heart Punch, and Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

If you get out some stamps, ink, paper and glue you will find yourself playing like a little school child making valentines! Be sure to stamp a heart on the envelope and mail the cards to your friends!

Remember, Stampin' Up! is always open for ordering! Shop Online here!

Don't forget…spend $50 and get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product!

Another “You Are Loved” All-Occasion Card

This was just too easy, so I had to make another card with the You Are Loved stamp set! I chose Perfect Plum card stock and ink to give it the monochromatic look, stamped on Shimmery White card stock. If you enlarge the photo, you might even be able to see the “shimmer” of the paper. Very subtle, very elegant, very pretty! I just used the greeting that was in the stamp set, or you could any other one, and tied a little Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon around the middle. Beautiful card and couldn’t be simpler to make!

You could make a little package with this stamp set, colored card stock, Whisper White card stock and ribbon to spend $50 and then be eligible to choose a FREE product from the Sale-A-Bration Brochure!

You Are Loved Stamp Set (clear) #123779 $23.95
Assorted card stock #120954 or a single color $6.95
Whisper White Card Stock #100730 $6.95
Classic Stampin’ Pad (choose a color) $5.95
3/8″ Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon #109070 $6.95

Total: $50.75

Now if you wanted to add on some more items, like adhesive, envelopes, some bling (rhinestones, pearls, glitter, 2-Way Glue Pen), another greeting set, other ink colors, etc. you could spend another $50 and choose a second Sale-A-Bration FREE product!

Shop HERE at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store or contact me if you have any questions!

A Love Card…For Any Occasion

I’m calling this a “Love Card” because it has the beautiful heart from the stamp set “You Are Loved” and it has a greeting from the stamp set “Loving Thoughts”. I had no idea I was going to make this card until I stamped the heart on Shimmery White paper and embossed it with Pewter Embossing Powder. I could have added any number of sentiments depending on the occasion I wanted to use this card for, and it would be perfect! Just for extra pizzazz, I added a layer of Silver Glimmer Paper (although it was fine without it) and layered all that on Pool Party card stock. With two stamps and some card stock I had a lovely card! It was so easy! And I hadn’t even planned it!

Get out some of your Stampin’ Up! stamps, ink and paper today and see what comes to your creative mind! If you make something, take a picture and email it to me!

Find all your stamping supplies at my Online Store here. Don’t forget….it’s Sale-A-Bration! Get a FREE product with every $50 you spend on merchandise!

Embossed Valentine with Hearts

Here’s a pretty simple valentine to make. Embossing the bottom edge with the Delicate Designs Embossing Folder (you actually get two and they coordinate with the Large Scallop Edgelits Die) gives the card an elegant look. I adhered some ribbon and a bow at the top of the embossing to hide the little line the folder made and just to delineate the design.

Next, you can just go to town with your punches! Actually, the design in my head was to have LOTS of punched and die cut hearts from card stock and from the More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper all over the top portion. But once I placed the large heart and two smaller ones on each side, I liked that look. I just layered the little hearts punched from the Small Heart Punch onto die-cut hearts. The little bitty hearts are from the Owl Punch! The “love” is from the “Ciao, Baby” stamp set in the Spring Catalog.

Gather some card stock and punches and make a valentine for somebody!!

Valentine Fancy Favor Box

The Fancy Favor Bigz XL Die for the Big Shot is one of those very useful dies to own! I think it was at the Stampin’ Up! Leadership Conference last year that I learned to make a box like this using two die-cut Fancy Favor boxes, one inserted into the other. What a cute idea it was! That idea popped into my head while thinking about a Valentine project. You do need 12″x12″ sheets of card stock to use with the Fancy Favor die. I used Primrose Petals and Pool Party card stock for the boxes. I turned the Primrose Petals Fancy Favor Box upside down and punched a heart with the Full Heart Punch. You could also use one of the Hearts Collections Framelits if you preferred. Then when the Pool Party box is inserted, you can see through. In the end I couldn’t resist adhering a paper heart onto the Pool Party box to show through the punched heart!

The More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper was perfect for this project. Two of the sheets you get in this package are of laser-cut hearts, one Real Red and one Primrose Petals. All you have to do is trim around the edge of whatever shape you want. Since they are white on the back, I turned the heart over so the white would show and punched the same shape heart out of it to line up with the punched heart in my Fancy Favor box. After that I just added various sizes of hearts from punches and framelits until I was happy with the design.

This was one of those projects where I had to slap my own hand and say “Stop!” Knowing when to stop is sometimes the hardest part of a project you like! Just to cover the top of the box (which would normally be the bottom of the box), I added a piece of More Amore paper to cover the tabs. And then I added a bow made from the new Pink Pirouette/Rose Red 1 1/4″ Two-Tone Ribbon.

Here is what the two boxes look like separated.

Think about what a cute gift you could put inside this box! It really wouldn’t even have to be strictly for Valentine’s Day, hearts are good for most occasions!

Be sure to check out the Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog for the paper and ribbon I used in this Valentine project. The Fancy Favor die, punches and framelits can be found in the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog. Remember, with every $50 you purchase, you can choose a free product from the Sale-a-Bration brochure through March 22. Now is the time to purchase those items you have been wishing for! Just click HERE to go to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!

Valentine Treat Bundles….Last Few Hours!

Valentine Specials Jan 2013

Today is the last day…last few hours!….to purchase either one or both of these cute Valentine Treat Bundles!

Purchase just the single heart stamp and get 50 1″x8″ cello bags with it for treats! Even if you don’t need the treat bags, the stamp is cute enough itself!

Valentine Treat Bundle #132771 $5.95

Or if you prefer, purchase the My Little Valentine stamps and get the cute Sealed With Love Simply Sent Kit FREE!

Order by clicking the links above or by going to my Online Store.

To get these specials, you need to place your order before 11:50 pm Mountain Time tonight!

Stampin’ Up! Valentine Treat Bundles…Last Few Days!

Valentine Specials Jan 2013

Two different choices of Valentine Treat Bundles from Stampin’ Up!….but the last day to purchase either one or both of these is Monday, January 21st. Don’t miss it if you want one!!

Bundle Item	Description	Retail Value	Special Bundle Price
132771	Valentine Treat Bundle Includes the Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp (clear-mount) and 1″ x 8″ cellophane bags	$7.45	$5.95

Buy one of the following:

Item	Description	Price
132242	My Little Valentine (English; clear-mount)	$9.95
132245	Enamorados (Spanish; clear-mount)	$9.95
132248	Mon petit amour (French; clear-mount)	$9.95

Get this FREE:

Page	Publication	Item	Description	Retail Value
35	holiday catalog	126923	Sealed with Love Simply Sent	$7.95

Just go to my Online Store and you’ll be able to purchase the Valentine Bundles right there!

More Amore Hearts Valentine Card

When I was playing with the More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper the other day, I decided to make another card right away. This hearts card could be a valentine or just an ordinary handmade card. The base is Primrose Petals card stock with a layer of Pool Party. Those are coordinating colors of the More Amore paper. I used the Scallop Trim Border Punch for the bottom to fancy it up a bit and tied some Primrose Petals 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon around the bottom edge. The really fun part was just punching out six hearts with the Full Heart Punch from the More Amore paper.

Then for just a little something or a greeting of some sort, I chose the Ciao, Baby! Stamp Set. If you check out the stamp set, you will see that the stamps are designed for the 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch and the Petite Curly Label Punches. The “love” stamp fits the Petite Curly Label Punch (coming in the Sale-A-Bration Catalog!)….but I wanted a circle….so I just colored in the word with the Primrose Petals Stampin’ Write Marker and stamped on Very Vanilla card stock. It is punched with the 3/4″ Circle Punch and layered on the new 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch in the Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog. Finally I added some Basic Jewel Rhinestones. I probably should have stopped at one, but rhinestones are so pretty….who can resist?!

So for an easy valentine, get out some designer paper and a heart punch and go to town! The Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog has so many beautiful embellishments you can choose from it you want to gussy it up a bit!

New My Digital Studio Downloads…Some Digital Valentines!

Want to just print out some awesomely cute little valentines as they come….or even change the design? Well, one of the new My Digital Studio downloads this week is the Officially Awesome Valentines Designer Template #133009 for only $3.95.

Or how about the digital stamp set Affection Collection #133016 for $5.95?

And who wouldn’t want a cute little set of six digital embellishments, Delicate Adornments #132265 for $2.95.

Don’t we wish we could automatically get our ribbon tied perfectly in one of four ways on our traditional cards! You can get the new Basic Gray and Pink Pirouette Two Tone Ribbon in a digital download #132272.

If you don’t already own My Digital Studio, the digital papercrafting software from Stampin’ Up!, you can get the 30-Day Free Trial and play with it! I think you will find it easy and fun to use. There are plenty of resources to learn to use it if it isn’t intuitive for you. Then if you would like to purchase the full MDS 2+ Version at the end of your trial period you will have LOADS of digital materials to use for lots of creativity!

Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog Valentine Card

Here’s a card I made with new products from the Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog. It could certainly be a valentine card, but it doesn’t have to be! It could be a nice card for anyone special in your life for almost any occasion. Hearts aren’t just for Valentine’s Day!

I started with a Very Vanilla base and a layer of Primrose Petals card stock, which is a color I haven’t used very much. I added a layer of the More Amore Specialty Designer Series Paper #129309. The opposite side of that paper is the strip on the side with the hearts, which I moistened and then crumpled. The big red heart is from one of the laser-cut sheets in the More Amore DSP as is the little doily circle at the bottom. Then I stamped a heart on Very Vanilla from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and cut it out with the Hearts a Flutter Framelits #130159 and added a framelit die cut heart from another sheet of the More Amore DSP. My “love” sentiment is from the Tiny Tags stamp set. To finish it all off, I spritzed the whole card with my Gold Glow Smooch Spritz #118770.

Don’t forget….you can save money by ordering the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and Framelits together in the Hearts a Flutter Bundle! Check it out on page 11 of the Spring Catalog or at my Online Store.

Shelli Gardner on “Good Things Utah”!

ValentineTreatBundleUS

Shelli Gardner is the Cofounder and CEO of Stampin’ Up!, for those who aren’t familiar with Stampin’ Up! She sometimes appears on local TV stations and shares some stamping projects. It’s always fun to watch Shelli on TV because while she claims to be nervous sometimes beforehand, she always does a marvelous job.

On Friday, January 4th she appeared on a local morning TV show, “Good Things Utah”. She presented projects made with the two Valentine bundles, available right now until January 21st. As she points out, they are easy for anyone to make, very reasonably priced, and the one set can be used for any occasion, not just Valentine’s Day.

I don’t seem to be able to embed the link to the video so I will just put the link to Shelli’s TV appearance on “Good Things Utah” last week if you would like to watch it!

http://www.abc4.com/content/about_4/gtu/featured_on/story/Stampin-Up/HTED4tTp30WdOolglVou-Q.cspx

And here are the stamp set bundles she is referring to:

Valentine Specials Jan 2013

You can order yours today, along with any other Stampin’ Up! products you like, including from the new Spring Catalog or the Clearance Rack. Just go HERE to my Stampin’ Up! Online Store and place your order!

If you would like to see close-ups of Shelli’s projects she displayed on the show, just go to her blog HERE.

Hearts a Flutter Just for You Card

I’m trying to do some stamping today with my “new stuff” from the new Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog that just came out yesterday, so I copied a card that was in our demonstrator magazine, Stampin’ Success. I love the cute little banner made with the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and Hearts a Flutter Framelits Dies. The center panel of the card is embossed with the Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. These products come in a bundle, the Hearts a Flutter Bundle, which saves you 15%! You might as well get both….I’m sure they will be a big hit! Remember, hearts aren’t just for Valentine’s Day. This card could be a valentine, a birthday card, an all-occasion card, even home decor! Be sure to check out the really cute little chalkboard in a frame on page 11 of the Spring Catalog showing a little banner using these stamps and framelits. If you need a Spring Catalog, please email me if you don’t have your own demonstrator. I’d be happy to mail one to you…and the Sale-A-Bration brochure, too!

My stamping supplies are still scattered around in different locations due to Christmas decorating so stamping today is more like a scavenger hunt! What should I get organized first??!

Use this banner idea on a scrapbook page as well! Just think of a card as a small scrapbook page!

Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog is Here!…Plus Valentines!

It’s the beginning of a new year and the beginning of Stampin’ Up!’s 25th anniversary year! So what can be more appropriate than a beautiful Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog?! This new catalog begins today and runs through May 31, 2013. It has a beautiful journal of the front cover, bundles of coordinating products inside to save you money, and tons of new accessories, tools, stamps, and paper. Don’t miss the new Honeycomb Embossing Folder with hexagon shapes or the Paper Doilies for your Valentines! There’s an Artisan Embellishments Kit with all kinds of goodies in it, new punches, new framelits, a giant butterfly, even real cross-stitching! Check it out today by clicking here or the image or link above! You’re sure to find lots to like!

Go to my Online Store here, click “Spring Catalog”, “All Products” and then “Show: ALL” to quickly scan through all the products in the new Spring Catalog.

You’ll also notice a section with Holiday Catalog Favorites that are still available.

And in case that is not enough….! Stampin’ Up! has a special Valentine promotion for you!

Click here to read the flyer!

There are actually two offers:

20% Off a Valentine Treat Bundle…a heart single stamp and cello bags.
Free Sealed With Love Simply Sent Kit when you purchase the My Little Valentine Stamp Set.

Check it out here in my Online Store! These are special offers only available

Jan. 3- 21, 2013!

Funny Valentine Cards for Wushu Fans

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If you are looking for a funny valentine card for the wushu fan in your life, here are some my son made for his friends in the Texas Wushu Club! Apparently I am not the only card-maker in the family!

Steven explained the funny meaning behind each of these but of course I don't remember. Obviously there is some wushu humor involved here and inside jokes! He just made them on his computer and printed on photo paper. One of the girls who was here showed me some he gave her and they were very cute! So there is art and creativity in wushu martial arts besides the physical effort!

You’re My Type Valentine Card

I love this "You're My Type" stamp set and thought it would make a good Valentine card for my husband. Then I saw a sample online where someone used the Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper along with the typewriter since it looks a little like typewriter keys! I thought it was brilliant and wondered why I didn't think of that! So here is the paper as a background for my card, plus bits of the "notebook" paper also in that pack, plus the First Edition Specialty Paper.

Here's the inside….just going crazy with my valentine stamps!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Valentine Petal Cone Die Candy Holder Gift

The Petal Cone Die #121810 can make a beautiful Valentine gift, holding candy or whatever treat you want to put in it. I felt like a school girl decorating this one for Valentine's Day! I just kept sticking on more stuff and hoping I would know when to stop! Isn't that what you remember when you were little and decorating a valentine shoebox for school or making your own valentines? We had our scissors, probably that school paste stuff, construction paper, doilies, and maybe some stickers or those little stars that teachers would put on your paper. Aren't those some of the best memories, making our own cards and gifts for our parents and family?!

I hope you will take some time to have some old-fashioned Valentine fun! Make a Valentine or gift for someone.

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